Pyramid Review: Mage Second Edition Revised

Pyramid Review

Mage Second Edition Revised

Developed by Jess Heinig

312-page hardcover, $29.95 (special limited edition, $69.95)

[Editor's note: Within 24 hours I received two reviews of this product. Since Mage has always been about different viewpoints, this somehow seemed appropriate. I have edited them into two coexisting reviews that will hopefully prove useful to you.]

Kevin Brennan

There's a reason that the new version of Mage is called the "Revised Edition" and not the "Third Edition." Consider it fair warning. This is not really a new edition of the game. The text has been substantially rewritten, but it's only a slight exaggeration to say that the most significant change in the Revised Edition is the replacement of Mage's signature font. The game is now far more clearly written and understandable than it ever has been before, but experienced players will find little new here.

For those unfamiliar with the game, the basic idea behind Mage is that reality is shaped by the collective beliefs of all humanity. Technology is just another form of magic, but because everyone believes in it, it works while traditional spells fail. A mage who tries to work magic that violates the collective paradigm risks a backlash of paradox that can violate physical law, inflict serious injury, or even remove the offender from reality. However, magic can also be "coincidental," meaning that the events can be explained without recourse to the supernatural, no matter how . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.



Article publication date: March 3, 2000

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